The new system remains controversial. One longtime CSI member claims MasterFormat ’04 perpetuates paper-based systems rather than embracing the digital age. “In digital technology you want to have very deep buckets instead of many buckets,” says Paul Doherty, executive vice president and CIO of TMG Real Estate Technology, San Diego. Others are more accepting. “It’s a good thing that they expanded, but it’s going to take people awhile to get used to this new system,” says Brian E. Trimble, regional market development director for the International Masonry Institute.

MacLeamy charged that “buildings cost too much and they don’t work too well.” He urged attendees to emulate the manufacturing industry in terms of standardizing more and collaborating at the get-go with partners. “Stop prototyping every building as a one-off where mistakes get made,” he said. “When I go to the AIA [American Institute of Architects] to talk about this, I don’t get very far,” he admitted.

Master Format '04 Final Division Numbers and Titles
Procurement and Contracting Requirements Group
00 Procurement and Contracting Requirements
Specifications Group
General Requirements Subgroup
01 General Requirements
Facility Construction Subgroup
02 Existing Conditions
03
 Concrete
04 Masonry
05
 Metals
06 Wood, Plastics and Composites
07
 Thermal and Moisture Protection
08 Openings
09
 Finishes
10 Specialties
11
 Equipment
12 Furnishings
13
 Special Construction
14 Conveying Equipment
15
 Unoccupied
16 Unoccupied
17
 Unoccupied
18 Unoccupied
19
 Unoccupied
Facility Services Subgroup
20 Unoccupied
21
 Fire Suppression
22 Plumbing
23
 Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
24 Unoccupied
25
 Integrated Automation
26 Electrical
27
 Communications
28 Electronic Safety and Security
29
 Unoccupied
Site and Infrastructure Subgroup
30 Unoccupied
31
 Earthwork
32 Exterior Improvements
33
 Utilities
34 Transportation
35
 Waterway and Marine
36 Unoccupied
37
 Unoccupied
38 Unoccupied
39
 Unoccupied
Process Equipment Subgroup
40 Process Integration 41 Material Processing and Handling Equipment
42 Process Heating, Cooling and Drying Equipment
 43 Process Gas and Liquid Handling; Purification and Storage Equipment
44 Pollution Control Equipment 45 Industry-Specific Manufacturing Equipment
46 Unoccupied 47 Unoccupied
48 Electrical and Power Generation 49 Unoccupied
Source: Construction Specifications Institute
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...the proposed six-digit numbering system (ENR 4/21/03 p. 15). MasterFormat ’04 has 35 divisions populated, with the remainder available for future expansion. Divisions 0 through 14, which have changed little, are a “more familiar” adaptation of the last edition, Hall says. Task team members say industry adaptation to the new system could take as long as three years.